Capping off a clay pipe

[RichTraff]

I'm building an extension over an existing drain. A branch off the main drain now needs capping off. I've read various methods of capping off a clay drain pipe, but I'm unsure of best practice.

Plastic bag, hardcore and cement is one method.

Fitting a rubber cap or plug is another.

Also, do I need to cap off the pipe where it connects to the main drain, or can I get away with capping it off at the end that's nearer the surface?

 

[Newboy]

Cap off at the inspection chamber

 

[RichTraff]

There is no inspection chamber :-/

 

[Newboy]

A blind connection onto the foul run?

You mention in your original post capping of where it "joins the main drain" - is this at a chamber or, if not, what's your access to this point?

 

[RichTraff]

'a blind connection' - I guess it is! All this pipe work was under a patio I've dug up. I can see that the direction that the branch goes in (towards the main drain, about a metre away).

I thought - is there any point digging down and across to wear it connects to the main drain, or should I just cap it nearer to the surface. As I'm writing this I'm already thinking 'don't be a lazy b*****d and just dig out more'.

There are no access points that I'm aware off. Maybe there will be if I investigate further but I doubt it. The entire level is about 1ft below surface as it is.

Anyway, I'll cap off where it connects to the main drain.

Next question - which method is best practice for cutting and capping the pipe. Bear in mind I don't have those fancy clay pipe cutters!

 

[Newboy]

Expose the connection - (my bet is there's a chamber under the patio).

Disc cutter to remove the redundant pipe and mortar the remaining stub - or inside the chamber, mortar up against an offcut of 4" waste laid in the channel to give you a smooth side to the run.

 

[mfarrow]

I admit as a DIYer I probably wouldn't be confident in filling a blind 4" hole up without also filling the main run, and would probably opt for:

Clay adaptor

with

a socket plug in the plastic end.

There's probably alternatives but they're what you're most likely to find in your DIY stores.

EDIT: I tell a lie. Toolstation sell these.

 

[Hugh Jaleak]

Cap as close to the main run as you can. Leaving a disused branch open is offering 5* accommodation for rats, and then capping it off near the surface? They'll find a way out, believe me!

 

[RichTraff]

Ok, I need to post this to shut my dad up...

He believes that no rats will go down a capped off drain. And if they did, they wouldn't get out a cemented on cap, even if they did get out of that - he believes it wouldn't matter as its 2 foot under the ground, which is under the solid floor extension. If a rat can't get out, whats the problem with them being there?

What can I say?

 

[mogget]

He believes that no rats will go down a capped off drain.

In the same way you don't enter the house when the back door's locked?

The rats may not be too much of a problem for your dad but it's a different matter if a sewage worker or river user gets weil's disease.

Rats should be kept out of drains wherever possible.

But I have no qualification in rat-catching.